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Beginners at concealed carry often ask the question, If I carry my handgun loaded with a round in the chamber, how do I prevent an accidental discharge? The answer is that you have to have good equipment, and train with that equipment. The heart of your concealed carry package consists of your handgun and your concealment holster. Both should be quality.
Holsters are basic equipment. You cannot safely carry a loaded handgun without an intelligently designed, comfortable, and functional holster that precisely fits your gun. Most importantly, the holster must cover and protect the trigger guard.
It is unsafe to carry a handgun inside your waist band (i.e., so called "Mexican carry" inside your pants) without a holster. It is also unsafe to carry a handgun dangling around freely inside your pocket. Either carry mode could lead to something getting caught inside the trigger guard, which could cause an accidental discharge. This is not conducive to protecting the family jewels, and after all, you are carrying a concealed handgun for personal protection!
Your concealed carry holster is your handgun's "safe home" on your body. As such, it's a very personal piece of equipment. If you carry concealed most of the time, you will grow attached to both gun and holster, and they will become a part of you. So, you must choose a concealment holster for your carry gun fits your lifestyle, environment, modes of dress, daily habits, body shape, size, and fitness level.
Categories of Concealment Holsters. In this article, I shall review four main categories of concealment holsters: (1) Paddle holsters; (2) Inside the Waist band (IWB) holsters; (3) Outside the Waistband (OWB) belt holsters; and (4) Pocket holsters. I shall discuss their main characteristics, important considerations in choosing a concealed carry holster, and I'll make recommendations based on my experience.
Do Your Homework! After studying this article, you need to do some research. Start by checking out manufacturers' web sites. Call manufacturers up, make sure you get a knowledgeable person on the phone, and don't be afraid to ask questions. A good manufacturer will gladly answer your questions. As an added bonus, if you can try before you buy, this is a good thing. However, this might only be possible at a defensive handgun training course, at a gun show, or in a reputable gun shop. All the more reason to take training, to go to gun shows, and to visit your friendly neighborhood gun shop!
Quality Holsters Are Works Of Art. Holsters are exciting. Once you get "the holster fever", and you will, you want to own every fine piece of leather or kydex that is made for your handgun/s. Then you end up with drawers full of holsters because you can only wear one at a time, and truth be told, you really want to wear one holster and one gun as your daily carry, and train with that equipment. However, looking at holsters, and acquiring beautiful ones, for a gun lover, is like a trip to Tiffany's for a diamond lover.
Essential Considerations in Choosing a Concealment Holster In choosing the right concealment holster for you, some essential considerations are: (1) wearer comfort; (2) excellent concealment given your wardrobe; (3) smoothness and speed of the draw that the holster facilitates (given proper technique); (4) fitting the size of the holster's belt clip or loop to the width of your belt, and for other than pocket holsters; (5) the ease of one-handed re-holstering.
A Safe Investment. It is foolhardy to spend $500 to $900 on a handgun, and then skimp on a cheap, floppy holster. Both the handgun and holster are an investment in your safety and survival. So, you should be willing to spend anywhere from $75.00 to $150.00 on a quality holster that will last many years. Additionally, you will probably want several types of holsters for different modes of dress and situations.
Cant. Strong side holsters are made to ride or "drop" vertically, or to ride at some degree of forward angle or cant. The cant typically varies between 8 to 20 degrees. The butt of the gun is raked forward and upward, and the muzzle is raked to the rear. Twenty degrees is considered an extreme, or radical forward cant. The more extreme the cant, the better the concealment, as it is the handgun's butt that typically prints the most. I prefer a 15 to 20 degree cant with the strong side holster worn at the midline of my strong side. This facilitates quick acquisition of a good grip on the handgun in the first stage of the draw from the holster, as my hand is naturally pushed up high on the backstrap. Holster Materials Should you go with a holster made of leather or synthetic kydex ? Excellent holsters these days are made of both materials. In fact, some manufacturers have come up with holster solutions that are hybrids of the two materials. In making a choice, several considerations are pertinent.
Cowhide or Horsehide? Leather rigs come in cowhide or horsehide. Cowhide is generally more supple, and has more give than horsehide. Thus, a cowhide holster is easier to break in and usually more comfortable, at least initially, than the same rig made of horsehide. However, a horsehide rig does offer better protection against moisture, which is an important consideration if you live in a hot and humid climate.
Also, horsehide is stiffer, and typically more durable. However, a good cowhide holster will still last for years. Lastly, cowhide is typically prettier. That is because it is easier to dye and it absorbs the dye better than does horsehide. So, if looks and cosmetics are your main consideration, cowhide is the answer. But, we are talking about concealment holsters. This means they should never see the light of day or something is wrong!
Breaking In Your New Leather Holster. Often, a new leather holster is stiff and tight. This means it will be hard to draw your handgun from the rig, and it also may be hard to fully seat your weapon in the rig initially. The solution to this problem is to break in your new holster. This involves "working" the holster with your unloaded handgun.
"Working" the rig means pushing your unloaded handgun all the way into the holster, moving it around, and then drawing it out. This should be done 10 to 15 times. If the holster is really tight, then you need to carry out a simple break-in procedure called "blocking".
"Blocking". This involves putting your unloaded handgun inside a plastic bag, such as the bag the holster came in, and then pushing the bagged, unloaded handgun all the way into the holster. You move it around as much as you can and then draw it and re-insert it 10 to 12 times. You then leave the bagged,unloaded gun in the holster for a couple of hours. When you withdraw the unloaded gun from the holster and the bag, make sure to check that it is still unloaded. Then re-insert it and withdraw it, and you should find, with a leather rig, that the gun moves more easily into and out of the holster.
Leather or Kydex? Kydex, which is a hard synthetic polymer, offers several advantages in a holster. Firstly, it is very durable. It retains its shape and can be banged around without damaging the holster. Because it retains its shape, it doesn't have to be broken in, as does leather--kydex does not stretch.
Adjustment Screws. What this means is that a kydex holster typically needs to have a tension adjustment screw to enable you to adjust the fit of the holster by either loosening or tightening it. Most do. They are located behind or below the trigger guard. Many leather rigs also have adjustment screws. This is a useful feature. Leather can shrink with heat, moisture from sweat, and humidity. Getting your gun stuck in your holster can be embarrassing to say the least, and fatal at worst.
Kydex rigs are typically more popular for competition and range training because they offer a faster draw. However, the down side is that most kydex rigs do not conceal as well as leather rigs. The key word here however, is "most". There are a few notable exceptions, such as the DeSantis kydex, vertical drop, Style 94 "Jackel" paddle holster, carrying a Smith & Wesson J-frame revolver. You can't get a closer, more concealed carry, and with the paddle feature, it's easy on and easy off.
Paddle Holsters Paddle holsters, as their name implies, have a paddle attached to the rear of the holster body that slides between the inside of the pants and the wearer's hip. Some have a hook on the bottom of the paddle to keep the paddle from coming up and off when the gun is drawn. The main advantage of a paddle holster is that it's easy to put on and take off. But the trade off, and main disadvantage, is that, with most paddle holsters, especially with a heavy gun, the rig tends to tip outward from the body, causing the gun to print through a concealment garment.
Another notable exception is RM Holster's "Extreme Cant Paddle" or ECP.
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Inside the Waist Band (IWB) Holsters Inside the Waist Band (IWB) holsters are the easiest and most effective way to conceal a compact to full size handgun. The body of the holster rides between your body and your waist band on your strong side. Thus, you have to have enough room inside your waist band! When wearing an IWB, often it is necessary to wear a pair of slacks and a belt that is one size larger than what you normally wear.
Fasteners. An IWB is secured in place by either a single or pair of tunnel belt loops, snap belt loops, or clips. The advantage of snap and clip attachments is that they make the holster easier to put on and take off.
One of the best leather IWB holsters available, and at a price that won't bust your piggy bank, is Mitch Rosen's form molded "USD Express". This rig is remarkably comfortable, concealable and quick. The belt loop has a one way snap for ease of putting the holster on and taking it off. However, once you put it on, you won't want to take to off!
High Noon Holsters' "Tail Gunner" IWB with its unique rear stabilizer wing, helps to keep the holster from rotating or shifting positions. It features rough side out construction, a 15 degree forward cant, a leather lining, and a reinforced holster opening that is crush resistant to facilitate one handed re-holstering. Additional features include an open muzzle configuration, a stitched-in sight track, a tension screw for adjustment of tightness of fit and ease of the draw, and a slide guard to protect the wearer from being irritated by the pistol's slide, slide stop, safety/decocker, rear sight, and hammer. The snap straps will fit up to a 1-3/4 inch wide belt.
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Galco Gunleather is the manufacturer of a large line of high quality leather concealment holsters. One of the best IWBs made, and one of my all time favorites, is their famous "Royal Guard". The Guard offers exceptional comfort and durability. Constructed of premium horsehide with the rough side out, and a smooth leather interior, the Royal Guard facilitates a smooth draw and easy one handed re-holstering. Its one way snap-on belt loops will fit belts up to 1-3/4 inches, and with its forward rake and quality design, this rig provides excellent concealment.
"Tuckables" Within the class of IWBs, an ingenious adaptation for maximum concealment is the tuckable belt loop extension -- brainchild of gun writer and holster maker, Dave Workman. Dave's unique concept, born in his original tuckable, which is available from D&D Gunleather (http://www.danddgunleather.com/index.htm), has been copied by numerous holster makers. The tuckable feature allows the wearer to tuck his shirt completely over the holstered handgun between the body of the holster and the extension strut such that the only visible part of the rig is the belt clip, tunnel belt loop, or snap strap on the belt. A well designed "tuckable" rides with enough stability inside the waist band to be worn as a traditional IWB as well.
To draw your handgun from a tucked in tuckable, you need only pull your shirt tail up out of your waistband, grip your handgun high on the backstrap as you would in the first stage of any draw, and then draw the gun.
High Noon Holsters' "Hidden Impact" and "Hidden Ally" clip-on tuckables ride vertically in the pants. This makes it comfortable to position the rig forward of the hip. Also, their clip-on feature allows for ease of putting on and taking off. They are very affordable, no nonsense, high quality rigs that exemplify the axiom that form should follow function.
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Galco Gunleather's significant contributions to the tuckable IWB line of products are their very functional "Deep Cover", "Ultra Deep Cover", or "UDA", "Ultimate Second Amendment", or "USA", and "Skyops" models. All but the "Skyops are vertical drop rigs. The "Skyops" offers an extreme cant for those who desire this and Galco's unique "Y-hook" for exceptional stability. When you wear any of these models, only you will know you are armed. The "USA" and the "Skyops" are the most concealable as they do not have reinforced open tops. This means you sacrifice easy one handed re-holstering for deeper concealment. If deep concealment is essential, this sacrifice is worth it.
Made of hard, thermoplastic synthetic material, Blade-Tech's "Ultimate Concealment Holster" (UCH) is a real winner. This tuckable IWB holster is adjustable for cant, or can be worn as a straight drop. It easily allows the shirt to be tucked into the pants, completely concealing the firearm and holster. The well conctructed belt loop and tuckable extension arm provide for a very stable ride of the holstered handgun inside the pants. This rig works equally exceptionally as a regular IWB, or as a tucked in IWB.
Last, but certainly not least, I strongly recommend, the "GS Tuckable" by H.B.E. Specialty Leatherworks. Master holster craftsman, Eric Larsen, has made a remarkable rig that does everything an IWB tuckable should do perfectly. It is made of cowhide and horsehide, such that it is not as stiff as an all horsehide rig usually is, but yet, it is just as durable and moisture resistant. Cosmetically, the holster is beautiful, and spells Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y. The fine stitching and molding make this rig a work of art. It is almost too pretty to wear, but yet it begs to be worn, and when you put in on, you are not going to want take it off! It is that comfortable!
This rig works equally well as a tuckable or as a regular IWB. The construction of the belt loop and tuckable belt loop extension strut also spell S-T-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y. The reinforced open top and slide guard (which is just the right height) facilitate easy one-handed re-holstering and a comfortable wear. Eric Larsen is a master craftsman and a true artist.
OWB Belt Holsters Open Top or Thumb Break? Within the class of OWB belt holsters, the pancake style holster, that has a belt slot fore and aft of the holster body, typically rides closest to the body and conceals best. Such a rig can be had with either an open top or with a thumb break retention strap.
Whether the top is open or has a thumb break, the top can be reinforced to help it stay open for ease of draw and easy one-handed re-holstering. However, the down side to a reinforced top is that it reduces concealment by giving the rig a wider profile. For maximum concealment, a non-reinforced top is best. A well made concealment pancake holster is form molded and retains its shape, without a reinforced top.
Quality examples include (1) Mitch Rosen's forward tilted, "5JR Express", (2) High Noon's forward canted, "Slide Guard" and "Sky High", and (3) Galco's radically forward raked, "COP 3 Slot", "Combat Master" and "Concealable" belt holsters.
The thumb break retention strap Keep in mind that a thumb break retention strap can only prevent a gun grab from being successful if you do your part--which means being alert, aware, and in Condition Yellow at all times, until the need arises to transition into Condition Orange or Red. However, generally speaking, because we are carrying concealed, a thumb break is not a necessary device to have in most situations. People shouldn't know you are carrying!
A thumb break retention strap provides secure RETENTION of your weapon. This is a good thing to have if you are going into a crowd. It retains the gun in the holster by preventing the gun from being drawn unless the retention strap is released first. However, this adds an extra step to the draw. So, it requires practice. In one continuous smooth motion, your strong hand thumb must come down and push through the snap fastened thumb break to "break", or release, the lock on the gun, and permit you to grab the gun and draw it up and out of the holster.
Also, with many pancake holsters a thumb break tends to cause the rig to hug closer to your body, improving concealment--definitely a good thing! Mitch Rosen, DeSantis, High Noon, and Galco all make excellent thumb break OWB holsters.
The down side, however, to a holster with a thumb retention strap, especially for concealed carry applications, is that a thumb break adds an extra step to the draw. Thus, it can retain your weapon too well, and spell R.I.P. when you need to grab your weapon fast--not a good thing! Obviously, if you are going to wear this equipment, you have to practice drawing your unloaded gun from your holster so that it comes natural in a pinch. It's a muscle memory thing.
Open or Closed Muzzle? So called, "belt slide" holsters are made with open muzzle ends so they can holster the same pistol in different barrel lengths (e.g., all of the small or large frame Glocks). The advantage of course is you save money as the same holster works with all of your Glocks. The down side however, is that your muzzle and front sight are not protected. For this reason, I prefer a closed, molded muzzle, and each of my handguns has a holster that is specifically made for it.
Cant or Rake? A vertical drop, or straight up and down carry is desirable if you tend to wear the rig on your strong side forward of your hip, at the strong side appendix position, or in the cross draw (i.e., non-dominant side) appendix position. Otherwise, if you wear your holster on your strong side at your hip, at your strong side midline, or slightly behind your hip, a forward angled cant, or rake, is a better choice. In this angle of carry, your handgun's muzzle is raked to your rear and its butt is raked or canted upward and forward. The strong side forward rake, enhances concealability.
Snap Straps Or Tunnel Loops? One remarkable OWB concealment belt holster is Lou Alessi's "CQC/S".
The "CQC/S" is a forward canted, reinforced open top, leather, high riding, pancake belt slide, with snap belt loops fore and aft. Its unique construction keeps the rig stable and close to the body. The snap belt loops make it easy to put the holster on and take it off, because you don't have to rethread your belt! Many have copied Alessi's design, but no one has matched it in quality or functionality. It's a comfortable rig to wear all day, under a shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket.
Pocket Holsters Pocket holsters are designed to carry small caliber pistols or small frame revolvers in a front or rear pants pocket or jacket pocket. In my experience, the most functional pocket holsters (1) are made for the front pocket, (2) do not create a tell tale bulge that prints G-U-N, (3) keep the gun positioned upright and in the same position in your pocket, (4) are comfortable all day long in your pocket, to the degree that you can forget the rig is there unless you need it, and (5) stay in your pocket when you draw your gun. It is more than embarrassing in an unfriendly social situation to draw your pocket gun sandwiched in its leather rig!
Seven cleverly crafted and unique products that fit the bill to the "P" in Pocket are: (1) the rough side out, soft leather, wallet style, flap pocket holster made by Jason Schafer of JS Holsters, (2) the ambidextrous "Pocket Grabber" made by High Noon Holsters, (3) the ambidextrous DeSantis "Style N38 Nemesis" which is made of a viscous, sticky, synthetic material, that keep this pocket holster in your pocket when you draw your pocket gun, (4) Mitch Rosen's "Pocket Softy" and "No. 18", (4) Galco's ambidextrous "Front Pocket Horsehide Holster", (5) Greg Kramer's hard molded, horsehide front pocket, wallet style pocket holsters, and (6) Andrews Custom Leather's pocket holsters. What's more, owning one or more of these pocket holsters is easy on your pocketbook!
I use my Mitch Rosen "No. 18", my JS Holsters wallet style pocket rig, and my High Noon Pocket Grabber to comfortably and securely carry my Kahr Arms PM9, MK9, and MK40 pocket rockets. For my .380 ACP Kel-Tec P3AT, .32 ACP Kel-Tec P32, .380 ACP N.A.A. Guardian, my .32 ACP Seecamp, and my small Smith and Wesson J-frames, nothing beats my Galco horsehide picket holsters. I also favor my High Noon "Pocket Grabber" and Pocket Reload", my Mitch Rosen "Pocket Softy", and my DeSantis "Nemesis" for small caliber pocket handguns. Last, but far from least, for my .38 Special J-frame snubbies, Greg Kramer's horsehide, wallet style pocket holster, and Galco's horsehide, front pocket holster cannot be beat.
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Arm Both Pockets and Practice With Both Hands. It's best to have right and left handed versions of the same pocket holster for each pocket gun. Thus, when you're carrying a more substantial caliber handgun on your strong side in an IWB or OWB holster, you can carry your pocket gun in your support side pocket. However, make sure that you practice drawing from your support side pocket!
With a doubly confirmed unloaded gun, alternate practice drawing from your strong hand and support hand pockets in a designated, safe, "dry practice" area at home. Also, practice deploying your pocket gun from your pockets at the range. Become used to carrying a pocket sized handgun in your pocket. It's the best way to assure you'll be armed most of the time, and when you need to be.
Personal Defense Options and Solutions In sum, the more options you have for concealed carry, the more solutions you'll come up with to satisfy your personal defense needs. Hopefully, this article has made you aware of the wide range of options available for concealed carry. Remember, "You have the rest of your life to solve your problems. How long you live depends on how well you do it." (famous quote by Clint Smith)..
In future articles, we shall cover additional concealed carry options - shoulder rigs, belly bands, waist packs, etc. - as well as gun belts.
SOURCES Andrews Custom Leather. 386-462-0576. www.andrewsleather.com. Blade-Tech Industries. 253-581-4347. www.blade-tech.com. D and D Gunleather. www.defensetactics.com/dandd.htm. DeSantis Gunhide. 516-354-8000. www.desantisholster.com. First American Ordnance. 800-982-4009. www.holster-connection.com. H.B.E. Leatherworks. 801-916-9248. www.hbeleatherworks.com. High Noon Holsters. 727-786-7528. www.highnoonholsters.com. JSHolsters. 434-239-7210. www.jsholsters.com. Kramer Handgun Leather. 800-510-2666. www.kramerleather.com. Lightning Arms Sports. 503-643-8198. www.lightningarms.com. Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather. 603-647-2971. www.mitchrosen.com. RM Holsters. 225-262-7446. www.rmholsters.com. Galco Gunleather. 800-874-2526. www.usgalco.com
Dr. Bruce Eimer is a hypnotherapist and licensed clinical psychologist, and author in Pennsylvania and the owner of Alternative Behavior Associates www.hypnosisgroup.com. He is a Life Member of the NRA, an NRA Certifi ed Firearms Instructor in Pistol, Home Firearms Safety, and Personal Protection, a Glock Certifi ed Armorer, and the co-author of Essential Guide to Handguns: Firearm Instruction for Personal Defense and Protection www.looseleafl aw.com. Bruce is a member of IALEFI, the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. He can be reached by email at dr.bruce@hypnosisgroup.com.